Help me pick a winch

[Chicken Drumstick]

Not 100% LR related. But I'd like to fit a winch to my Gen 4 Jimny.

I already have a winch suitable front bumper, although the design is quite different to most Land Rover bumpers. The winch will end up being mostly enclosed by the bumper with the winch tray inside. Access is through the cutouts in the top. Which might rule out some designs I think.

 

The Jimny also only weighs around 1100kg. So I'm thinking a 4500lb winch might do the job. Lots of people with 3rd Gen Jimny's run this size of winch with success. I like the idea that most of them are in the 13-16kg installed weight range. While a bigger/regular winch is more like 28-32kg installed weight. I think this would be much better for a vehicle the size/weight of the Jimny, On this note, I'd also only be looking at synthetic ropes.

Where I'm stuck is the plethora of makes and choices. I don't really know a good make from a bad one.

I like the look of the Warn Axom 55-S, although stock/availability seems to fluctuate and they are pricey. Seeming to be £823-1054 depending on where you look.

Ultimately I only want the winch as a bit of insurance should I fancy trying out a lane on my own. I don't intend any sort of hard core use for it.

And as much as I think the Warn would be ideal. I then see winches like these:

 

£318 - https://www.kartt.shop/product/4500-lbs-20kn-12v-electric-winch-synthetic-rope/

£276 - https://www.winches-uk.co.uk/shop/warrior-ninja-4500lb-12v-electric-winch/

£317 - https://www.winches-uk.co.uk/shop/novawinch-nw4500-4500i-12v-electric-winch/

 

Anyone able to tell me why the cheaper ones won't be suitable? Or recommend what I might want to look at?

Thanks.

[Nonimouse]

I wouldn't fit the last one as it has a fixed magnet motor (not sure about the other two). They are much more susceptable to vibaration/heat/dust

Warn winches are proven to be the most unreliable manufacturer of winches in the world. Worse now that the components are only assembled in Murica

Generic chinese made stuff is pretty good - the Badlands/Terrafirm/Runva stuff is excellent - except for the controls, they are carp

T-max stuff is very good

I wouldn't go for a 4500lb - if the numbers are to be believed the stall rating is 4500lbs. Less than 2.5tonnes. When stuck in ruts with the diffs dragging you are looking at 1.5-2 times you gross weight to pull the vehicle.

I'd opt for a 6000lb- 8000lb at the least. I fit 4500 to these or quads https://www.better-bounce.co.uk/category/play-and-trampoline-trailers. Mainly Samurai units,as ebvery Warn winch I've fitted has needed to be replaced

I fit these http://www.comeupwinch.com/products-view.php?ID=51 various things, including old style Jimny's - never had one go wrong, ever

In reality the weight or size of the winch is neither here nor there - but having plenty of strength built in means you aren't beating the hell out of it for simple recoveries

[Bowie69]

TBH, that's my first reaction, 6000 minimum on a light vehicle like you describe.

Plus that's 1100Kg, plus you, your passenger, any luggage, GVM is ~1435Kg... that's without overloading  

[BogMonster]

If you were willing to pay the Warn price then I'd probably pop £500 or so on a Goodwinch TDS9.5 and then add a synthetic rope - there's no such thing as too much winch, and it will be faster/cooler/more reliable whenever you use it. All electric winch ratings are based on essentially the same logic as me saying I can cart all my pies along on foot at 120mph by running off a cliff, it doesn't really work out in the real world and doesn't last that long.

I would guess there are far more people out there who regret buying a small winch, than regret buying a large one

https://goodwinch.com/product/goodwinch-tds-9-5c-9500-lbs-12v-or-24v/

 

[Chicken Drumstick]

9 minutes ago, BogMonster said:

If you were willing to pay the Warn price then I'd probably pop £500 or so on a Goodwinch TDS9.5 and then add a synthetic rope - there's no such thing as too much winch, and it will be faster/cooler/more reliable whenever you use it. All electric winch ratings are based on essentially the same logic as me saying I can cart all my pies along on foot at 120mph by running off a cliff, it doesn't really work out in the real world and doesn't last that long.

I would guess there are far more people out there who regret buying a small winch, than regret buying a large one

https://goodwinch.com/product/goodwinch-tds-9-5c-9500-lbs-12v-or-24v/

 

Thanks, but I think that is just too heavy to have way out in front of the front wheels for such a light vehicle. If I was fitting to my 90...

[Chicken Drumstick]

56 minutes ago, Nonimouse said:

I fit these http://www.comeupwinch.com/products-view.php?ID=51 various things, including old style Jimny's - never had one go wrong, ever

Interesting, looks to be about 23kg installed weight. Bit heavier than the 4500lb winches, but a lot lighter than many other bigger ones. Do you know where to buy in the UK? Google didn't seem to show any UK venders. Thanks.

[Nonimouse]

I was about to say "Winches UK" but they don't anymore, which is annoying. I'll ask my contact at Come Up. 

The Warrior stuff is also very good, as is Champion. It's generally all the same

This is 4Kgs heavier than the DV6, but a 9500lbs stall https://www.bimsonpower.com/products/warrior-9500-samurai-v2-short-drum-winch?variant=41096987050190&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl9ivqKz8_QIVqoBQBh25ag_OEAYYAyABEgJDUPD_BwE

So it has a shorter line than a full width  drum. Just carry an extension

If you can, avoid buying one with synthetic rope though. The Chinese don't use Dyneema strand, and their copy of it is poor. So buy it with steel, sell the steel, and but a decent SK95 or 98, or CM20 rope

 

[Nonimouse]

https://www.winchsystems.co.uk/products/comeup-dv6-long-drum

Never dealt with these guys though

[elbekko]

I recently bought this: https://www.vevor.nl/elektrische-lier-c_11304/13500lbs-12v-electric-synthetic-rope-winch-3-stage-planetary-gear-train-roller-fairlead-p_010676218521

Haven't run it yet, but it looks and feels like good enough quality. Especially for the price.

They have some smaller winches as well. And a UK site, but I couldn't immediately find tge winch on there.

[Escape]

As above, I wouldn't go for one of the ATV winches. A Jimny is considerably heavier, so they'll struggle and could even fail when you really need them. I do use one (4000lb IIRC) on my trailer. That does the job on single line pull for most cars, but I feel more comfortable doubling up with a snatch block when loading a Range Rover or similar. And that's rolling vehicles on a hard(ish) surface and less than 15° slope. A lot of the cheaper ones (like mine) have a permanent magnet motor, which is no match for the series wound motors on a proper recovery winch.

A 6000lb version should suffice, but there is not as much choice. @elbekko was referring to this one: https://www.vevor.nl/elektrische-lier-c_11304/6000lbs-2721kg-12v-recovery-electric-lier-truck-trailer-touw-afstandsbediening-p_010643984034

One more thing to add, if given the choice I would go for a 6000 instead of an 8000 with the same motor (or 9500 vs 13000 for full size ones). The difference being in the gearing, the lighter one will be faster and have a bit more rope on the drum as well. You can always use a snatch block if you really need the extra power, the higher speed and longer rope will be an advantage in all other cases.

Filip